title: Long-term outcome of ATG vs. Basiliximab induction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An evaluation of the long-term efficacy and incidence of adverse events after induction therapy with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) vs. Basiliximab in renal transplant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty recipients receiving ATG induction and a dual immunosuppression with Tacrolimus and steroids were compared retrospectively with 60 patients treated with Basiliximab. The following characteristics were evaluated: concomitant immunosuppression, recipient age, donor age, time on dialysis, cold ischemia time, year of transplantation and HLA mismatches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 6-year patient survival in the ATG group was 91·7% compared to 85% in the Basiliximab group (not significant, n.s.). Graft survival at 6 years was 89·7% and. 83·6% in the ATG and the Basiliximab group (n.s.), respectively. Incidence of biopsy proven acute rejection episodes (33·3% vs. 26·7%) and delayed graft function (30% vs. 33·3%) were similar in both groups. Kidney function was not significantly different at 1 and 6 years. CMV infections were more prevalent in the ATG arm (22% vs. 5%; P = 0·05), and a significantly higher rate of haematological complications was observed following ATG induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ATG induction was associated with an improved (but n.s.) trend in patient and graft survival. Patients induced with ATG had a higher rate of CMV infections and haematological complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral, General and Transplantation Surgery, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. Frank.Ulrich@kgu.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niedzwiecki
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascher
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.forename: Sascha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fikatas
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: Gottfried
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: May
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Reinke
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
authors.forename: Stefan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Tullius
authors.forename: Johann
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pratschke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077552:Basiliximab; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000077552:Basiliximab